CyberGuard dictionary / Phishing & Social Engineering
Social Engineering
Manipulating people to make them disclose information or perform actions they otherwise would not.
In simple terms
Instead of breaking software, an attacker persuades a person to do the work for them.
Technical explanation
The technique can use urgency, authority, familiarity, or fear across email, calls, messaging, and in-person interactions.
The attacker tries to shift a person's decision by manufacturing trust, urgency, or pressure rather than exploiting code directly. Verification through an independent channel breaks the claimed authority chain.
Examples in practice
A caller claims to be IT support and asks for a one-time sign-in code.
The caller knows the employee's manager's name and insists the code is needed immediately. The employee ends the call and contacts the help desk through the company's listed number.
Why it matters
Training and clear verification procedures reduce the pressure to act on a convincing story.
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Sources and further reading
Published 2026-10-15 · Last updated 2026-10-15 · CyberGuard editorial content. Source links provide context; they do not imply endorsement.